Vending machine



J. E. HAGSTROM July 29, 1941.

' VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1.939

INVENTOR, 42 Jasepfi A. flaysf/vm 875 ATTORNEY-5.

Patented July t29, 1941 orslca;

VENDING MACHINE Joseph E. Hagstrom, Kansas City, Mo. Application June 20, 1939, Serial No- 280,16$

Claims. (oil 312-36) Thisinvention relates to vending machines of the character wherein is embodied manually operated mechanism for. imparting step-by-step movement to specially formed parts of the ma chine, to the end that one of a plurality of packages is made available to the purchaser, while the remaining packages are guarded.

This invention has for one of its primary aims the provision of a vending machine wherein the plurality of packages to be vended, are heldin stationary, annular paths, over which is disposed unique apparatus for rendering the packages available, one at a time, as the purchaser manually manipulates coin controlled mechanism.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a specially formed guard plate that is uniquely associated with a turntable, and

means-for moving the turntable and said guard plate, with respect to each other, whereby the packages are made accessible, one at a time, to the operator.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a vending machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the lid and parts associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 2, with the housing omitted.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the coin control mechanism for establishing connection with the movable part of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view through a portion of the machine,

taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'l is a horizontal sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a vending machinemade to embody a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view of the lid of the modified form, illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is' an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional'view taken on line X-I; of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 8, illustrating the manner of supporting the tumtable and guard plate.

Vending machines embodying this invention are .particularly useful in dispensing bottled goods, where the package i2 is'to be chilled, and therefore, case I4 should have the wallsthereof thoroughly insulated so as to prevent objectionable lowering of temperature withinrefrigerated compartment I6, wherein is disposed a holder i6 for packages l2. This holder l6 has a plurality of compartments therein arranged in a number rality of compartments arrangedin staggered re-- lation with respect to the compartments ,in the other paths, so that packages l2 may be made individually available while the remaining packages inholder l6 are guarded against removal.

A bracket 20 secures holder l8 in place below lid 22, wherein is provided an opening 24 having a turntable therein, which completely closes said opening.

Turntable 26 is rotatably carried by a plurality.

of rollers 26, each of which is mounted on a'fixture 30 secured to and depending from the underside of lid 22. Rollers 28 underlie the flange 32 at the annular periphery of turntable 26, and pintle 34 at the axis of turntable 26 precludes accidental raising thereof.

A stationary guard plate'46, secured directly.

to lid 22, lies between holder l6 and turntable 26. Perforations 48, formed through guard plate 46, respectively overlie all of the compartments in holder iii. 'In the specific instance illustrated, there are three annular paths of perforations 46 in guard plate 46, and three similar paths of compartments for packages I2.

The coin controlled means for permitting the operator to manually actuate turntable 26, is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, and comprises a conventional coin chute into which is fed coin 52, through slot 64 formed in housing 66, which rests upon lid 22 to contain the parts disposed above the upper surface thereof.

Pinion 44 is mounted upon stub shaft 56, journalled in bearing 60, which holds shaft 68 in a vertical position so that it extends upwardly through the top of-lid' 22, where the upper end is received by support 62 (Figs. 5 and 6) mounted upon said lid.

Ratchet wheel 64,,engaged by dog 66 held in normal position by Springs 68, is rigid to shaft 66, as is plate'lll' that is provided with a radial slot 12 to receive coin 62 after it has passed downthe coin todropinto box 16 when plate "has reached oneend of it's pathoi travel.

Bar is mounted for rectilinear reciprocav tion, andahandlefl on one end thereof, is of fixed annular paths. each path havlng' pl beyond the P 3 9 h g 56 so that it may-:-'*-

be grasped by the operator. A spring 84 yieldably maintains bar 88 at one end of its path of travel, and 9. depending roller 88 extending into slot 80 of plate I0, imparts rotary movement to said plate as bar 80 is moved in the direction of the arrow, shown in Fig. 5.

A pair of spring pressed dogs 90, engageable with the holes 42 in flange 82 of turntable 28, preclude movement of said turntable in a direction other than that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

' Dog '88 holds ratchet wheel 84, and therefore, shaft, pinion and turntable, 58 44 and 28 respectively, against movement in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, until the coin has been inserted to be drawn against cam face 82 on dog 88 to withdraw the latter from looking engagement with ratchet wheel 84.

Window 94 in housing 88 overlies the path of travel of flag 08, having lettering 98 thereon, which indicates to the operator that the machine is empty when indicia 98 appears below window 94. Flag 98 carried by the upper end of a rotatably mounted shaft I00, is drawnto the operative position by a spring I02, being held from beneath window 94 by the lower end of shaft I00, which is formed to present a head I04 that is in friction engagement with the outer annular surface of flange 32 on turntable 28.

A notch I08 formed through flange 32 receives head I04 after the turntable has made a complete revolution, and when shaft I has been moved about its axis by the inward radial movement of head I 04, arm I08 carried by shaft I00, is moved to a point where its laterally extended portionv H0 is disposed in the normal path of travel of coin 52 as it moves through coin chute 50: thus, the coin will be ejected through the conventional ejector passage of coin chute 80 and cannot serve as a medium for interconnecting ratchet wheel 84 and plate I0. When holder I8 is again filled with packages I2, turntable 28 is moved to a position where head I04 will be outside of notch I08.

The step-by-step movement imparted to turntable 28 is suflicient to successively bring into register delivery aperture 38, one of perforations 48 of guard plate 48, and one of packages I2 in holder I8. All of the remaining perforations 48 are entirely or partially covered by turntable 28 so that when cover 38 is lifted by the operator, only a single package I2 may be manually lifted from within the machine.

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, a turntable I20, havingdelivery aperture I22, is identical'with turntable 28 previously described.

The annular downturned flange I24 is provided with a series of holes I28, engageable by pinion I28, that is driven by precisely the same mechanism as that illustrated in Figs. v4 to 7 inclusive.

Holder I30 having packages I32 arranged in a plurality of fixed annular paths, is secured in case I34 by a bracket I38, and between holder I30 and turntable I20 is positioned a rotatable guard plate I38 through which is formed a number of specially located perforations I40. These perforations are located in annular paths concentric with the axis of rotation, and there are a plurality of perforations I40 in each path. The elongated delivery aperture I22 in turntable I20 overlies all of the paths wherein perforations I40 are disposed.

Rotatable guard plate I38, having an annular rack I42 at the periphery thereof, has the upper part circumscribed by the lower portion of rack I28 on turntable I20. An annular shoulder I44 on guard plate I38 bears the weight of turntable I20, and as members I20 and I38 arerelatively rotated about their concentric axes, frictional engagement occurs.

A series of brackets I48 carried by lid I48, carry rollers I50 which support the weight of turntable I20 and guard plate I 38.

A pinion I52 in mesh with the annular rack 4 on guard plate I38, is rigid to shaft I84 to which is secured gear I88 in mesh with pinion I28. Thus, when pinion I28 is rotated in one direction, pinion I82-wil1 rotate in a direction opposite thereto, for the purpose of oppositely rotating turntable I20 and guard plate I38.

Step-by-step. movement is imparted to these last mentioned elements above holder I88, and perforations I40 are arranged as shown in Fig. 9 so that a perforation I40 overlies a package I82 each time handle 82 is drawn outwardly from the normal position. Turntable I20 covers all of perforations I40 other than the one in register with an underlying package I32, and therefore, only one package at a time may be manually withdrawn through delivery aperture I22.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A vending machine of the character described comprising .a case; means in the case for holding a plurality of packages in a number of fixed annular paths; a lid on the case provided with an opening therethrough above all the packages in the holding means; a turntable closing the opening having a delivery aperture therethrough movable through a path of travel above all of said annular paths; a guard plate having a number of perforations therethrough, disposed between the packages and said turntable; and mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement to the turntable to successively move the delivery aperture of the turntable into register with one of the perforations of the guard plate, the said one perforation being above one of the packages when in register with the aperture to permit manual removal of the said one package from the holder, the remaining perforations of the guard plate being closed by the turntable when one of the perforations in the guard plate is in register with said delivery aperture and above one of the packages, said perforated guard plate being large enough to underlie all of the turntable, the perforations through said guard plate being arranged in a number of annular paths respectively, above the fixed annular paths of said packages, there being a lesser number of perforations in each of said number of annular paths than there are packages in the fixed annular path below the annular paths respectively,

said guard plate being rotatably mounted and.

operably connected to the mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement to the turntable.

2. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means in the case for holding a plurality of packages in a number of fixed annular paths; a lid on the case provided with an opening therethrough above all the packages in the holding means; a turntable closing the opening having a delivery aperture therethrough movable through a path of travel above all of said annular paths; a guard plate having a num ber of perforations therethrough, disposed belar path below movement about an tween the packages and said turntable; and

mechanism for imparting step-by-step move-'- ment to the turntable to successively move the delivery aperture of the turntable into register with one of the perforations of the guard plate, the saidoneperforation being above one of the packages when in register with the aperture to permit manual removal of the said one package from the holder, the remaining perforations of the guard plate being closed by the turntable when one of the perforations inthe guard plat'eis in register with said delivery aperture and above one of the packages, being large enough to underlie all of the turntable, the perforations through said guard plate being arranged in a number of annular paths respectively above the fixed annular paths of said packages, there being alesser number of perforations in each of said number of annular paths than there are packages'in the fixed annular path below the annular paths respectively, said guard plate being rotatably mounted for movement about an axis substantially concentric with the axis of the turntable, said. mechanism for moving the turntable having means in engagement with the guard plate for simultaneously rotating the same as the turntable is rotated.

3. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means in the case for holding a plurality of packages in a number of fixed annular paths: a lid on the case provided with an opening therethrough above all the packages in the holding means; a turntable closing the opening having a delivery aperture therethrough movable through a path of travel above all ofsaid annular paths; a guard plate having a number of perforations therethrough, disposed between. the packages and said turntable; and mechanism for imparting step-bystep movement to the turntable to successively move the delivery aperture of the turntable into register with onset the perforations of the guard plate, the said one perforation being above oneof thepackages when in register with theaperture to permit manualremoval of the said one package from the holder, the remaining perforations of the guard plate being closed by the turntable when one ofthe perforations in theguard plate is in register with said deliveryaperture and above one of the packages, said perforated guard plate being large enough to underlie all of the turntable. the peri'orations'through said guard plate being arranged in a' number of annular paths respectively-above, the fixed annular paths of said packages..-;there being a lesser number of perforations in eachof said number of annular paths than there are packages in the fixed annu- V theiannular paths respectively, said guard plate beingrotatably mounted for axis substantially concentric with the axisof nism for moving the turntable having means in engagement with .theguard plate for simultaneousiy rotating thesame as the turntableis rotated, the said guard plate being rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said turntable. v

4. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case: means in the case for holding a plurality of packages in a number of with an opening therethrough above all the packsaid perforated guard plate the turntable, said mecha-' the opening having a delivery aperture therethrough movable through a path of travel above all of said annular paths; a guard plate having a number of perforations therethrough, disposed between the packages and said turntable; and

mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement mit manual removal of the said one package forations of the guard plate turntable. when one of the perforations in the guard plate is in register with said delivery aperfroin the holder, theremaining perforations of the guard plate being closed bythe turntable when one of the perforations in the guard plate is in register with said delivery aperture and above one of the packages,said perforatedguard plate being large enough to underlie all of the turntable, the perforations through said guard plate being arranged in a number of annular paths respectively above the fixed annular paths of said packages, there being a lesser number of perforations in each of said number of annular paths than there are packages in the fixed annular path below the annular paths respectively, said guard plate being rotatably mounted and operably connected to the mechanism for imparting movement to the turntable so that stepby-step movement ina direction opposite to the direction of travel of the turntable is imparted to the guard plate.

5. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means in the case for holding a plurality ofpackages-in a number of fixed annular pathsta lid on the case provided with an opening therethrough above all the packages in the holding means; a'turntable closing the opening having a delivery aperture therethrough movable through a path of travel above all of said annular paths: a guard plate having a number of perforations therethrough, disposed between the packages and said tumtable; and mechanism for imparting step-bystep movement to the turntable to successively move the delivery aperture of the turntable into register with one of theperforations of the guard plate,.the said one perforation being above one of the packages when in register with the aperture to permit manual removal of the said one package from the holder, the remaining perturev and above one of the packages, said perforated guard plate being large enough to under lie all of the turntable. the perforations through saidguard plate beingarranged in a number of annular paths-respectively above the fixedannu- .70 fixed annular paths; slid-on the caseprovid mechanism is actuat ages in the holding mes la turntableclosin j j lar paths of said packages, there being a lesser number of perforations in each of said number of annular paths than there are packages in the fixed annular path below the'annular paths respectively. said guard mounted on the lid, said turntable having an annular rack at the periphery thereof, said guard plate being provided with an annular rack, the mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement to the turntable constituting a pinion in mesh with each rack respectively and a gear operably connecting the pinions and adapted to cause the same to rotate .in opposite directions when the .rosnrrr n, nAc's'moM;

being closed by theplate being rotatably 

